Emergency failure closed the Prague Libeň Bridge for trams

photo: IPR Prague

Prague - Due to the emergency closure of the Libeň Bridge in Prague, tram services between Palmovka and Maniny have been suspended from this afternoon until further notice. Services are taking a detour, reports the Prague Public Transport Company (DPP) on its website. According to the spokesperson of the Technical Administration of Communications (TSK), Barbora Lišková, only the inundation bridge, which is part of the Libeň complex, is closed. Tram service over Hlávkův Bridge was also interrupted for about an hour today. According to DPP spokesperson Daniel Šabík, this closure was due to work originally planned for February, but to allow more tram lines to access the bridge with the introduction of detours, the transport company hastily moved part of it to today.

"Due to an emergency failure, we are closing part of the Libeň complex. This only concerns the inundation bridge, which is on the Prague 8 side at Rohanský Island, where the original Vltava riverbed was," said Lišková to ČTK this afternoon. The inundation bridge is also closed to pedestrians, which was confirmed by a ČTK photographer on-site. Cars can pass normally over the Vltava between Prague 8 and Prague 7 because the part of the bridge over the river is not closed, the spokesperson added.

Trams cannot pass over the Libeň Bridge for the entire section. Due to the emergency, services on lines 1, 6, 14, and 25 are taking a detour. A replacement bus service X1 is gradually being introduced on the Dělnická - Maniny - Palmovka section, the transport company reported.

Mayor of Prague 7 Jan Čižinský (Prague Together) wrote on X that the Libeň Bridge was inspected due to the frost, and a condition was found at the arch near Voctářova Street that needs further diagnosis. "The inspection will continue tomorrow (Friday, note ČTK)," he added. So far, TSK has not provided a prediction for the resumption of operations. "We will provide more detailed information in the coming days," said the spokesperson.

The nearby Hlávkův Bridge was also closed for trams today for about an hour. Its minor adjustments were originally planned by DPP for February this year. However, due to the closure of the Libeň Bridge today, the most important tasks for the company's employees were done today. "This is to allow us to let more trams onto Hlávkův Bridge. If we hadn't done the work, we could have redirected only one line here," said DPP communications department head Šabík to ČTK. At Hlávkův Bridge, which is also in poor condition, the maximum allowed speed for trams will be reduced with the introduction of detours.

The Libeň Bridge is a complex made up of six bridges and was built according to the design of architect Pavel Janák in 1928. The bridge has never been repaired and is in very poor condition. In 2018, it was temporarily closed to cars and public transport. Last year, diagnostics showed that all arches have the same load capacity as when they were built.

The previous leadership of Prague planned to demolish the Libeň Bridge and replace it with a new structure, but the current leadership of the magistrate decided on repairs. The consortium of companies that will repair the bridge is led by Metrostav TBR and includes the parent company Metrostav as well as design firms SATRA and SHP. According to earlier statements by TSK director Jozef Sinčák, work could begin in spring 2025.